Fatal crashes in Dubuque County, Iowa
In 2024, 11 people died in 10 fatal crashes in Dubuque County, Iowa, up from 4 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 62 fatal crashes and 66 deaths, the 8th most of 99 counties in Iowa.
11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11 across Iowa in 2024; 6.7 against 11 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 99,242, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Iowa.
Deaths in Dubuque County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | 11 |
| 2023 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022 | 9 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Dubuque County
The 2 roads listed held 24% of all fatal crashes in Dubuque County from 2015 to 2024; 2 US routes. 47% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 53% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 20 | 9 | 10 | 2 | no page |
| 2 | US 151 | 6 | 7 | 2 | no page |
Dubuque had 44% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 27 of 62.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Dubuque 27. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Dubuque County
62 fatal crashes in Dubuque County, Iowa from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 5 pm to 6 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Mon | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 1 fatal crash | 8.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan3.2%
- Feb3.2%
- Mar1.6%
- Apr9.7%
- May12.9%
- Jun8.1%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug12.9%
- Sep11.3%
- Oct8.1%
- Nov11.3%
- Dec8.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Dubuque County first hit
The first harmful event was a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 40%; a collision with another vehicle in 37%, a pedestrian in 11%, a rollover in 8.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 25 | 40% |
| Collision with another vehicle | 23 | 37% |
| Pedestrian | 7 | 11% |
| Rollover | 5 | 8.1% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.6% |
| Other | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Dubuque County compare with Iowa
The largest difference from Iowa: from 2015 to 2024, 53% of fatal crashes in Dubuque County were on rural roads, against 72% across Iowa. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Iowa. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 62 crashes.
| Dubuque | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 53% | 72% | below the Iowa share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 27% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 21% | 28% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A drinking driver | 19% | 25% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Speeding | 26% | 20% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.5% | 7.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 34% | 45% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.2% | 2.0% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| A motorcycle involved | 26% | 17% | about the same as the Iowa share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 7.1% | about the same as the Iowa share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Dubuque County, Iowa
- How many people died in car accidents in Dubuque County in 2024?
- 11 people died in 10 fatal crashes in Dubuque County, Iowa, in 2024, up from 4 in 2023. That is 11.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11 across Iowa. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Dubuque County involved a drinking driver?
- 12 of 62 fatal crashes in Dubuque County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 19%, against 25% across Iowa.
Other counties in Iowa with a page
- Polk County
- Scott County
- Linn County
- Pottawattamie County
- Black Hawk County
- Woodbury County
- Johnson County
- Lee County
- Webster County
- Dallas County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Warren County
All fatal crashes in Iowa, with every county ranked.
Where the Dubuque County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Dubuque County (county code 61). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/iowa/dubuque-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”